Academic Dress - Academic Policy | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Academic Dress - Academic Policy

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Approval authority
Academic Board
Responsible Executive member
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
Designated officer
Academic Registrar and Director, Student Services
First approved
2 February 1999
Last amended
26 August 2024
Review date
6 April 2028
Status
Active
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1. Purpose of policy

1.1 This policy sets out the specifications and standards for academic dress for all members of the University community. Academic dress, also known as regalia, is worn for all University graduation ceremonies. Academic dress may also be worn at other formal university events at the discretion of the Vice-Chancellor and President.

2. Policy scope and application

2.1 The policy covers Council members, officers of the University, recipients of honorary awards, graduates and graduands of the University.

2.2 Unless otherwise specified, staff involved in graduation ceremonies and/or academic processions should wear the academic dress appropriate to their own degree.

3. Definitions

Please refer to the University’s Glossary of Terms for policies and procedures. Terms and definitions identified below are specific to this policy and are critical to its effectiveness:

B.C.C. refers to the British Colour Council numbering system, as described in the British Colour Council Dictionary of Colour Standards, 2nd edition, 1951

cloth traditionally means fabric made of wool, but cloth made of other materials, such as Rayon or recycled plastics, may be substituted where appropriate

trencher cap means a mortarboard

4. Academic Dress for Council members and officers of the University

Award

Robe

Cap

Chancellor

Black cloth gown trimmed with gold braid on the sleeves and hem, with detailing embroidered on the shoulders and front facing in gold metallic thread

A black velvet bonnet with a cord tassel in gold

Deputy Chancellor

The academic dress appropriate to their own degree,

or

a black cloth gown in the style of the master’s gown of the University of Cambridge with facings in Empire Blue (B.C.C.87)

The academic cap appropriate to their own degree

or

a black velvet bonnet with a cord tassel in Empire Blue (B.C.C.87)

Vice-Chancellor and President

Black cloth gown trimmed with silver braid on the sleeves and hem, with detailing embroidered on the shoulders and front facing in silver metallic thread

A black velvet bonnet with a cord tassel in silver

Deputy Vice-Chancellor

The academic dress appropriate to their own degree

Pro Vice-Chancellor

The academic dress appropriate to their own degree

Council Members

The academic dress appropriate to their own degree

or

a black cloth gown in the style of the master’s gown of the University of Cambridge with facings in Empire Blue (B.C.C.87)

The academic cap appropriate to their own degree

or

a black velvet bonnet with a cord tassel in Empire Blue (B.C.C.87)

Yeoman Bedell

A black cloth gown in the style of the doctor’s gown of the University of Cambridge with facings and sleeve linings in Empire Blue (B.C.C.87) and sleeve trimmings in Jet Black (B.C.C.220)

A black cloth trencher cap

5. Academic Dress for Honorary Awards

Award

Robe

Hood / Stole

Cap

Honorary Doctorate

A black cloth gown in the style of the doctor’s gown of the University of Cambridge with black facings and sleeve linings in Empire Blue (B.C.C.87) and sleeve trimmings in Saffron (B.C.C.54)

A black cloth hood in the style of the University of Cambridge fully-lined in Empire Blue (B.C.C.87) with trimmings in Saffron (B.C.C.54)

A black velvet bonnet with a cord tassel in Saffron (B.C.C.54)

Chancellor’s Stole

A black cloth gown in the style of the bachelor’s gown of the University of Cambridge

Triple pleated full-length black cloth stole fully-lined in Empire Blue (B.C.C.87) adorned with two gold bullion hand embroidered oak leaf bands at the bottom of each tail

Not applicable

Honorary Senior Fellow

A black cloth gown in the style of the bachelor’s gown of the University of Cambridge

A full-length black cloth stole fully-lined in Empire Blue (B.C.C.87)

A black cloth trencher cap

Emeritus Professor

The academic dress appropriate to their own degree.

Distinguished Companion of the University

A black cloth gown in the style of the bachelor’s gown of the University of Cambridge

A black cloth hood in the style of the University of Cambridge fully-lined in Empire Blue (B.C.C.87)

A black cloth trencher cap

6. Academic Dress for Academic Awards

Award

Robe

Hood / Stole

Cap

Doctor of Philosophy

A black cloth gown in the style of the doctor's gown of the University of Cambridge with facings, sleeve linings and sleeve trimmings in Post Office Red (B.C.C.209)

A black cloth hood in the style of the University of Cambridge fully-lined in Post Office Red (B.C.C.209)

A black velvet bonnet with a cord tassel in Post Office Red (B.C.C.209)

Professional Doctorates

A black cloth gown in the style of the doctor's gown of the University of Cambridge with facings, sleeve linings and sleeve trimmings in Post Office Red (B.C.C.209)

A black cloth hood in the style of the University of Cambridge fully-lined in the designated colour

A black velvet bonnet with a cord tassel in Jet Black (B.C.C.220)

Masters Degrees

A black cloth gown in the style of the master’s gown of the University of Cambridge

A black cloth hood in the style of Oxford Burgon fully-lined in the designated colour, with a 2 cm strip in Black commencing 3 cm from the edge

A black cloth trencher cap

Graduate Diplomas

A black cloth gown in the style of the bachelor's gown of the University of Cambridge

A full-length black cloth stole fully-lined in the designated colour

A black cloth trencher cap

Graduate Certificates

A black cloth gown in the style of the bachelor's gown of the University of Cambridge

A full-length black cloth stole edged to a depth of 2.5 cm in the designated colour

A black cloth trencher cap

Bachelor (Honours) Degrees

A black cloth gown in the style of the bachelor's gown of the University of Cambridge

A black cloth hood in the style of Oxford Burgon lined to a depth of 15 cm in the designated colour, with a 2 cm strip in Black commencing 3 cm from the edge

A black cloth trencher cap

Bachelor Degrees, including combined and double degrees

A black cloth gown in the style of the bachelor’s gown of the University of Cambridge

A black cloth hood in the style of Oxford Burgon lined with silk to a depth of 15 cm in the designated colour

A black cloth trencher cap

Associate Degrees

A black cloth gown in the style of the bachelor's gown of the University of Cambridge

A black cloth hood in the style of Oxford Burgon lined to a depth of 10 cm in the designated colour

A black cloth trencher cap

Diplomas

A black cloth gown in the style of the bachelor’s gown of the University of Cambridge

A black cloth hood in the style of Oxford Burgon lined to a depth of 5 cm in the designated colour

A black cloth trencher cap

6.1 Pre-2012 Academic Dress

6.1.1 A graduate who has been admitted to an award at the University prior to January 2012 when this policy was first introduced, may continue to wear the academic dress and colours as prescribed at the time of their admission to the award, if they so wish.

6.2 Award Colours

6.2.1 With the exception of the Doctor of Philosophy, each academic award of the University will be allocated a designated hood or stole colour determined by the academic award Field of Education (FoE) and as approved by Academic Board.

6.2.2 Designated colours are:

Field of Education

Hood / Stole Colour

01 – Natural and Physical Sciences

05 – Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies

Violet (B.C.C 179)

02 – Information Technology

08 – Management and Commerce

Academic Green (B.C.C 203)

03 – Engineering and Related Technologies

Spectrum Orange (B.C.C 57)

06 - Health

White (B.C.C 1)

07 - Education

New Saffron (B.C.C 53)

04 – Architecture and Building

09 – Society and Culture

10 – Creative Arts

Royal Blue (B.C.C 197)

7. Acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ancestry

7.1 The University has a strong commitment to Australian Reconciliation. To enable Indigenous Australians to have their ancestry recognised during graduation ceremonies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have the option of wearing a stole incorporating the colours of the respective flags at their ceremony (red, black and Saffron for Aboriginal students and/or blue, green and white for Torres Strait Islander students – refer to https://www.pmc.gov.au/government/australian-national-symbols/australian-flags. This will be in addition to wearing the hood and/or stole required for their degree.

END